Case Studies
J.S. Held Acquires Shechter & Everett to Expand Forensic Accounting Capabilities for Family Law Disputes in Florida
Read MoreA utility-scale wind farm in the latter stages of construction on the Pacific Coast was impacted by a series of significant rain events. The rains and subsequent impacts on soil conditions resulted in damage to already-constructed civil works (i.e., roadways, site drainage, slope cuts, etc.) and the collection system's electrical infrastructure, as well as clean-up in environmentally protected areas, subcontractor downtime, and delays in overall project commissioning. As the site was constructed in a culturally and environmentally sensitive area, directives from state and local government agencies placed additional restrictions on clean-up and repair efforts.
J.S. Held’s Renewable Energy (RE) team was initially brought on in 2023 and tasked with inspecting the site, documenting damage to contracted works, evaluating the overall status of project construction, and reporting findings to insurance carriers. Subsequently, our RE team, with the help of our Forensic Meteorology team, analyzed the scope and costs of the physical damage from the series of rain events, exclusive of the normal contracted scope of work or any modifications from the original construction.
Our Builder’s Risk (BR) team conducted a detailed review of the project’s construction schedules to determine the delays attributable to repairing the physical damage caused by the rain events. In addition to the storm‑related impacts, the project faced ongoing challenges stemming from strict permitting requirements both before and after the rain events, which would have independently contributed to delays in achieving commercial operation. To distinguish these factors, the BR team prepared a “but‑for” schedule analysis to assess when the facility would have reached commercial operation absent the need for storm‑related repair work. Our Forensic Accounting team was then brought in to measure the claims presented for the Delay-in-Startup and loss of income.
The Insured initiated litigation against the insurers seeking recovery in excess of $40M, primarily due to differing interpretations of coverage. Despite the ongoing legal proceedings, we established a constructive and collaborative working relationship with the Insured, enabling all parties to clearly understand the financial implications of the various coverage positions. Our pretrial litigation support played a critical role in facilitating a mutually agreed‑upon settlement reached in early 2026.
> Construction Insurance Claims Services
We have a dedicated team of experts that have consulted on and testified in complex matters involving buildings and infrastructure that have been damaged during the course of construction. Our team of global experts calls upon decades of technical field experience working for many of the largest commercial contractors in the world. We have specialized expertise in delay analysis, schedule review, construction contract interpretation, repair cost review, and estimating.
> Forensic Meteorology
Meteorology consulting, forensic weather investigations, and weather risk assessments for property damage insurance claims, personal injury and accident investigations, and risk management. From multi-million-dollar insurance disputes to injury/wrongful death lawsuits, our Certified Consulting Meteorologists (CCMs) have testified in depositions as well as trials in state and federal courts. We have supported projects involving storm damage, flood loss, slip and falls, vehicle and aircraft accidents, roof damage evaluations, fraud investigations, and weather-related business interruption losses, among others.
> Forensic Accounting
Our Forensic Accounting Practice includes Certified Public Accountants, Certified Fraud Examiners, Certified Financial Forensics experts, and other financial experts who specialize in financial investigations, dispute resolution, and regulatory compliance. We deliver the truth behind the numbers in financial matters involving insurance claims and disputes, business interruption/lost profits, cyber damages, Delay in Start-Up (DSU)/soft costs, extra expense, family disputes, fraud, labor & employment disputes, personal injury damages, and bankruptcy/insolvency.
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